Student-athlete dies after summer conditioning workout at Federal Way High School

The death of a 16-year-old athlete while working out at Federal Way High School has been ruled as natural.

The King County Medical Examiner's Office has determined that Allen Harris died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick making it hard for the heart to pump blood.

Most people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have no symptoms and experience no significant problems, but for some, it can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, or abnormal heart rhythms.

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FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- A student-athlete died Tuesday after participating in a summer conditioning workout at Federal Way High School, the district said.

In a letter to parents, Federal Way Public Schools Superintendent Tammy Campbell said, "It is with deep sadness that I am sharing that a student-athlete, a member of the Federal Way High School Family, passed away suddenly today after participating in a summer conditioning workout at Federal Way High School. Our hearts are with the family as they deal with the loss.

"We have protocols and procedures in place to ensure student safety during summer workouts," the letter said. "Over the next 72 hours, we will be suspending all outdoor athletic activities at the middle and high schools to closely verify and examine the protocols we have in place."

The letter did not identify the student, age, gender or say what sports workout the student was involved in.